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Do or Don't: Leopard print flats

I've always been hesitant when it comes to leopard print (too Mrs. Robinson), but recently I've spotted a few gorgeous women wearing leopard-print flats. They seem like a perfect subtle way to work a bit of sexiness into your ensemble. I'd love to wear them with regular jeans and sweaters this spring, and feel instantly womanly and alluring.

210 comments:

Nah, but only because I'm not a flats kind of girl. I got myself some leopard prints socks to start out slow, and then ventured into a leopard print button down shirt that I layer under sweaters and things, just letting it peek out a bit. Small doses, baby steps!

I wear my Tory Burch reva flats in patent leopard almost every day. Leopard is a classic print do it goes with everything! Mine are getting so worn down, I'm looking at investing in a Kate Spade pair or Jcrew. A must!

Definitely a DO! I think the only issue is finding the right print with the right fabric and the right style. Putting those three things together is hard. I think I've found a pair on Zappos but I'm still searching.

Yes! I rotate three pairs to avoid total destruction of them. I wear them probably every day. They are comfortable, they literally go with everyone (you can't beat a shoe that has black AND brown!) and I think they are pretty hip. I also have a pair of leopard print booties.

I thought leopard print flats were a great compromise and got a pair a few years ago at the Gap, but my husband hates them and says that no matter how subtle, leopard print screams "cougar". LOL. So they now stay in the back of my closet. Boo.

Definitely a DO! I used to feel the same way, but a leopard flat is such a subtle way to incorporate such a fun, sexy pattern.I pretty much consider leopard print a neutral and wear my flats with almost everything. I bought a pair for $10 at F21, so in case I didn't love them I wasn't out a ton of money. Now that I know what a staple they are in my wardrobe, I'm going to invest in some higher quality ones. Gotta love F21 for experimenting with trends! :)

I always have a pair of leopard print flats handy! Right now I have a pair from Jeffrey Campbell that I bought almost 6 years ago. Love them! I tend to treat leopard print as a neutral, I love it.~Arielle

i am all for leopard print flats and have been looking for the perfect pair for a while. leopard is a bit fussy. i find myself liking leopard pants, shoes and clutches (not together, of course!), but i just can't get into leopard print tops or scarves.

Do! Do! Do! I have a pair from Madewell and they're hands down my favorite shoe. One thing to be aware of - if you go for furrier ones (seems weird to say, but you know what I mean), they sometimes shed a bit (so I just try and avoid stubbing my toe a lot when I wear them).

So funny because I bought the Matisse leopard flats after seeing them on your blog last season :) I heart them! These leopard flats are very muted and neutral. A good place to start. Or, get the ones that are at Target right now so you don't have to make a huge investment. Leopard print flats go very well with all the colored jeans that are out and about too.

So funny you wrote about this today. I had to get rid of my favorite pair of leopard-print flats last year (bought for $10 at Payless in 2008) and have searched for a YEAR for a pair to replace them. Found such pair on Sunday at Nordstrom Rack, and I'm giddy about all the outfits I can wear them with. They totally add a pop of color and whimsy to any outfit. My favorite is to wear them with a black skirt and black tights.

LOVE! any pop of pattern or color on a shoe is a good thing. my work wardrobe stays pretty basic, so i'm always up for fun shoes to spice it up... wearing some Steve Madden ZEBRA print shoes today, and already got a few compliments on my way in the door :D

I'd say it depends on the person. My sister ROCKS them. She works as a special ed aide for two wonderful little first-graders, and so flats are her go-to shoe, and since they are close to the ground, being so little, she likes wearing spunky shoes, since the kids notice shoes and socks! :)

As for me, I'm not an animal print sort of person, so I wouldn't wear them. I love a good ballet flat, but I generally go solid jewel tone.

So foreign to me for these not to be considered a classic? I really didn't know until recently (reading this, and another's blog a while back) that some women were on the fence about them. I think they are a staple. Try them with skinny crop jeans, and a classic black v neck. You'll be in love!

I think maybe I'm the only one who says no!!! I'm not a huge leopard print fan, I like it in doses but some reason I just cannot get into leopard print on shoes. I think it just doesn't look right. It never really sits well with me. I saw a girl yesterday wearing those Jeffrey Campbell (here) leopard wedges and I was just horrified. I just feel like they can't be taken seriously in the slightest (though I know you cannot approach clothes/shoes in that regard). Maybe it's just me (and it seems like it is just me seeing how everyone commented "YES!!") but I just think they're cheesy.

I just bought some from Target, and I love them! I owned a pair a few years ago and loved them then too, so much that I wore them til they had a hole! I was so happy to find another pair at Target for cheap. (I'm on a budget!) i think they are the perfect way to add a little sass to an outfit.

i just bought some leopard print loafers- wore them to the So Cal BLogger Meet-Up and they were a HIT.. so so soooooo cute! and the best part, everyone SWORE i got them at Anthro, but really, i found them for 40 bucks online! SCORE!

I totally agree with you. Leopard is risky business... If you're over a certain age or have a certain body type, it feels either too Mrs. Robinson or too Delta Burke. I'm all for the flats though. I don't like haircalf or these new slipper/loafer things that people are wearing, but on a nice, simple pair of ballets, it works.

I love them. Only, I've been calling mine Cheetah print, lol. But I have a pair I bought from Target, and they are one of my favorite pairs of flats that I own. I've actually been thinking about getting some more, because the pair I have now are starting to get worn out. That's how much I love them! :)

LLLLLLLLLOve the leopard print flats...I'm like that too...afraid to look too vampy in leopard print clothing, but shoes I can do! I have the most comfy pair--and they're a really cheap payless brand, but I LOVE them!

Hi Joanna,Totally unrelated to the leopard print flats post (which I'm a fan of by the way!)Just wondering if you used a baby memory book for Toby's first year and if there's one in particular that you like or have heard that others like?Thanks!

As a HUGE fan of leopard print, I wear my leopard flats all of the time! I'm very careful about only using a small amount of leopard though because I do think it can look tacky if overdone. Flats are a great to way to add a little something to an otherwise conventional outfit!

I just bought the exact leopard flats on Leigh- they're from Target. I'm normally not a fan of animal print (too flashy for me) but these ones are girly and subtle and look great with a simple outfit, like a plain black v-neck and skinny jeans.

I had a lovely pair I bought about four years ago and adored them. Thought they instantly chic-ified my jeans and wore them till they fell apart, literally! See a lot more in shops recently and tempted to replace though now that I see them on more people it kind of puts me off! I did love them. Ah! The vagaries of fashion.

Target has a cute pair of flats for $14, if you want to ease into the trend without spending a lot of money! I've had my eye on them for a couple of weeks and I'm just trying to decide what I could pair them with in my closet...

I will if I can find the right ones. I have big feet and I have to be careful ! Some shoes that are cute small aren't that cute big : ( Also these were on Oprah's must have in your wardrobe list a few years ago : )

I do have a pair I got on clearance at J.Crew and I love them. For my big 3-0 my husband and I went to NYC and let me spend way too much on a great pair of leopard print mohair Prada heels! IN LOVE. they go with everything - especially that little black dress.

I love my leopard print flats. You could always get a cheap pair at Target to see if you like how they feel. I like wearing them with otherwise plain outfits- skinnies and a gray v-neck tee, for instance. That being said, my husband hates them. ; )

I might be biased because I can't get enough leopard print, but I LOVE leopard-print flats. They're so versatile and fun and go with a surprising number of things. I couldn't live without mine. And they're subtle if you're nervous about going all out with leopard print.

I was hesitant too, but i decided I wanted to give it a try and opted for flats rather than heels since I wear flats a lot more. I've only worn them a few times, but that's more due to weather restrictions (I live in Toronto so there's a lot of gunk on the street) than having nothing with which to wear them. I'm finding that they're neutral enough not to overpower an outfit, but add just the right amount of oomph. I can't wait for spring so I can wear them more often!

We LOVE leopard (when done right, that is)! Flats are a great option, but there are other ways to do it without being too 'Mrs. Robinson' outlined here:http://heavybrowsing.com/post/12884976429/leopard-trend-piece

I come in on the side of "No" for these (one of the few). I've never liked the print, and to me they're trendy rather than attractive. Garance Dore did a piece on a pair last year, and since then they've been all over the place (don't get me wrong, Garance is great, but..)! So no! :)

Leopard print flats are my go to shoe choice. They act like a neutral, but so much more fun! I can wear them with brown OR black OR brown AND black. They liven up conservative outfits, excite everyday jeans and tshirts, and give me a little pep in my step.

I have a cheap pair from Target and wear them when I go out or want to make an outfit a bit fancier! I didn't realize when I bought them how much they actually go with -- I have definitely worn them with half of my closed!

I love my leopard print ballet flats... They are super chic and look great with jeans and a tee or a little dress and tights for a night out with the girls :)Please check out my blog and follow back?www.stylishlymebytaryn.blogspot.com

I don't wear flats so it's not a question for me. I'd go for a belt, gloves, love to top in first picture, My mom has some leopard print earrings and a brooch from the 60's. Hey what's wrong with Mrs. Robinson?

This is an interesting topic. I wore leopard print clothing when I was in my early twenties, a vintage leopard fur jacket with bright red lipstick, and it looked cute and artsy. But since then, no way. I find it aging and gaudy, i.e. zsa zsa gabor and ivana trump. Absolutely no offense to anyone, this is just me. I am sure some women could pull it off, but I can't.

100% YES! I've now gone through 3 pairs of leopard print flats. got my most recent ones on Zappos..I think they're by Ann Klein and have a cute bow on them. super comfy and like $60 although I shouldnt know that because Santa brought them ;)